How do you register?

All of our adult/teen classes are now pre-registration required classes. Drop-in students will only be allowed if a minimum number of pre-registrations are met.

Monday, Dec 18 & Tues-Thurs Jan 2-4, AND Afro-Contemporary on Nov 29 & Dec 6 ONLY we will have our Winter classes available as “try-it-out at a discount” drop-in classes for only $10 on these specific dates. Students may pay for one class only to try out before registering for Winter quarter.Click HERE for more information and a printable flier.

REGISTRATION deadline is Thursday, Jan 4, but please register early.On January 5th, we will decide which classes are running, and if running, you can still register for all 10 weeks with a $10 late fee. OR if a class is running, students may purchase a Flex-5 card ($60 cash or check, $63 credit card) or pay per class at a drop-in rate of $14 cash/check, $15 credit card. This webpage and CDT’s Facebook Page will be updated on January 5th with classes which are running for Winter quarter, and which will allow drop-in students.

You may register by downloading the registration form hereand send it or bring it to the studio by the registration deadline with your payment. Or you can pay by credit card online (below) and then email, mail, or bring the registration form to the studio. The studio is usually only open during class times Mon-Thurs eve, or by appointment.

How much do the classes cost? When are registrations due?

Winter 2018 Class Pricing

If minimum registrations are met and class runs (determined on or before Jan 4), drop-ins will be allowed at:$14 cash/check or $15 credit card or use a5 class Flex Card: $60 cash/check OR $63 credit cardFlex Cards expire 3 months from date of issue,non-refundable, non-transferable (only one person may use it)Not valid for Guest Artist Masterclasses. Flex cards may be used for any adult/teen class which is running.

IMPORTANT: If minimum registration is not met by deadline, class will be cancelled. Refunds will be given if a class is cancelled, or students may transfer the payment to another class, the following quarter or to Flex-cards.Contact us immediately if you miss a deadline as space may still be available – late fees will apply. Payment is due with registration. Registrations are non-refundable and non-transferable and may be used only for the quarter registered.

Payments with cash/check/credit card can be made at the studio during class times, Mon-Thurs evenings and credit cards can be accepted over the phone (513) 591-1222 — if not answered please leave a message to be returned. No refunds for missed classes by students, but students may take up to 3 make-up classes by the same instructor or 1 class by another instructor with permission – these make-up classes must be taken within the quarter. Make-up classes for CDT cancelled classes (due to weather, instructor illness, etc.) will take place on another day or during Spring Quarter.

Payment for the quarter may also be made BELOW with credit card and PayPal accounts for adult/teen classes.If paying online through the PayPal “Add to Cart” button (below), please type the participant’s name if different from name on credit card. New students must also turn in a registration/release form on or before the first class. Price below includes $10 late fee for registering after the Jan 4th deadline.

Need help?

Contact dance@cdt-dance.org or (513) 591-1222 if you still have questions.Please note the studio is not open during the daytime, so someone may not be able to return your call until the evenings when classes are in session.

AFRO-CONTEMPORARY DANCE — NEW! CANCELLED FOR WINTER QUARTER – check back for Spring Quarter.Afro-Contemporary dance combines traditional style West African Dance with contemporary music and movement. Classes are taught as a two-part series with robust emphasis on choreography and technique, including a broad range of explosive full body movements. This class is intended for intermediate and advance students with a background in dance, and experienced advanced beginner level dancers are also welcome. Please dress comfortably in loose or form fitting clothing. Dances are done barefoot, or in light dance shoes. Bring water and a smile! See a video of a class combination HERE.

IVY PEA, BLACKBUTTERFLY, dancer and choreographer, is a student of life and lover of all things Nature. Elevated by the essence of the rhythm, she is one with the drum. As a graduate of The School for Creative and Performing Arts, Ivy carries with her a strong background in Theatre and Instrumental Music. As an adolescent, Ivy developed her passion in West African Drum & Dance with the Afrikan-American Drum & Dance Ensemble Inc., where she later became Lead Instructor and Choreographer. With vast performance and travel opportunities, Ivy studies dances of the African Diaspora rigorously under Master instructors native to the African continent. These dances are more than rhythmic movements. She describes them as “emotions, decoded into physical illustrations.” Ivy is the Creator of NGOMA, LLC.; her mission is Cultivating Mind, Body & Spirit with healing energy through the power of Dance.

BALLET BASICS: STRETCH & STRENGTHEN, 1 & 2 — Have you always wanted to learn Ballet? Well this is the class for you. In this class you will be introduced to the basics of Ballet including barre work, jumps, turns, leaps, and small combinations. Special emphasis will be placed on strengthening the muscles used in ballet & increasing overall flexibility! Basic Ballet vocabulary will also be taught. This class is ideal for beginner ballet dancers as well as dancers who want a slower paced ballet class with more explanation on technique, and want to be able to ask questions, while getting a great stretching and strengthening workout. Recommended to wear: dance clothes (such as tights & leotard) or exercise/yoga clothes (there is no specific dress code). If you plan to take ballet for a-while, please purchase ballet slippers for this class. Otherwise, you can take this class in other soft dance shoes (such as jazz shoes) and possibly socks or bare feet.

ALLISON JACOBS has been dancing and teaching in greater Cincinnati and New York City for the past twenty years. Her dance training is primarily focused on Ballet and Modern. However, Allison is also well versed in Tap, Jazz, Hip-hop, Musical Theater, Swing, and Contact Improvisation. Allison has worked with Tanze Performing Arts Studio, Hamilton Ballet Theater, Miami Valley Ballet Theater, Long Island University, Contemporary Dance Theater, Ballet Tech, and Fresh Air Fund. Most recently, Allison has taught dance for Contemporary Dance Theater, Cincinnati Waldorf School, Cincinnati Public Schools, MamLuft&Co. Dance, as well as for the University of Cincinnati and the Cincinnati Public Libraries. As a lover of all dance and all art forms, Allison is also a proud member of the Greater Cincinnati Dance Alliance, a group who engages the community in dance. In addition to teaching dance, Allison is a graduate of Kent State University with a Masters in Library Science, as well as Northern Kentucky University with a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and a minors in dance, honors, sociology, and art history. For more information, please feel free to email her at allison@cdt-dance.org.

BELLY DANCE BASICS – These classes will teach foundation steps common in many styles of Arab Dances all throughout Northern Africa and the Middle East. The dance course is taught in Classic Egyptian style, also known as Dance Oriental. Focus will be on the basic movements of the hips and chest, including: conscious application and practice of geometrical shapes particular to this ancient art (circles, spirals, figure eights); pulsating rhythmic movements (locks); and vibrating rhythmic movements (shimmies). Students will learn dance steps, examine Arab Folklore related to dance, and take a brief look at its origins and history. A choreographed dance will be taught over the entire session. Students should bring a scarf to tie around your hips to aid with body awareness, and tighter fitting dance or exercise type clothes will also help in learning the technique. Bare feet is recommended, but students may also wear thin dance type shoes.

IRENE MIRCI is originally from Rome, Italy, but spent her youth in Australia. Her travels around the world as a tour leader have taken her as far as India, Syria, Tunisia, Yemen and all over Europe, but her real passion is for dance. In Italy, Irene was introduced to Belly Dance by American anthropologist Louise Melita, and she later continued her studies with two instructors from Egypt, Amal Khalifa and Saad Ismail, who passed on their deep knowledge of this ancient art in different ways. Amal Khalifa is a dancer and performer who interprets the Egyptian style with impeccable elegance, while Saad Ismail, highly esteemed with more than 40 years teaching experience, shares M. Reda’s style and a deep technical insight. Irene’s studies then continued with Maria Luisa Sales, who’s Belly Dance teaching techniques are strongly influenced by her background in Classic Indian Bharatanatyam and Classic Persian dance. Here in US Irene continued her studies with Niran al Ubaidi and Shakira al-Fanninah, and has attended workshops with Morocco, Karim Nagi, Faten Munger, Hadia (Canada), just to name a few. Recently she has studied deeply embodied movement with Fanchon Shur.

HIP HOP — Steve’sHip Hop classes are filled with creative choreography set to the latest Hip Hop/R&B music. Recommended for all levels of dancers (mixed level). It is recommended that students wear dance/exercise type clothing and athletic shoes or dance sneakers, or go barefoot if you prefer.

STEVE IRWIN has been dancing and teaching professionally for over twenty-five years. He has performed all over the world on cruise ships, at dinner theaters, and at theme parks. Steve’s teaching credits include Northern Kentucky University, Governor’s School of the Arts, Playhouse in the Park, Cincinnati Ballet, Wyoming Center for the Arts, and CCM. Steve also offers private lessons and is available to choreograph for individuals, musicals, and events such as flash mobs and weddings. See Steve’s Facebook page here. He is pleased to be teaching at CDT.

LATIN DANCE BASICS: Cha-Cha & Zouk Emphasis — This quarter we will offer a beginner/advanced beginner class for those who would like to learn and work on Latin Dance styles, specifically Cha-Cha and Zouk. You will learn the basics to get you out on the dance floor, as well styling and a-couple fancy steps! No need to register with a partner, but it is recommended that students try to find a partner to take class and practice with. Please wear shoes in which you are able to turn, spin & pivot, and any clothes which you are comfortable dancing in. Check out this performance video of Amos Brown & his dance partner, Sheri Riley – Bolero is first and at 6:45 see Salsa.

AMOS BROWN began his dance training with parents Amos Sr. and Alpha Omega Brown. He won his first dance contest with his baby sister Felicia under their parents tutelage. His dance interests include modern, jazz, hip hop, Latin, African, and occasionally some classical dance genres, working with Shekinah Glory Dancers, opening up for gospel recording artist Darwin Hopps, and learning Ballroom from former Champion Susie Lasko, winning first prizes in Cha, Cha, Cha, and Swing competitions. He has also worked as an Actor/Cotton Club Swing Dancer in the play, This Joint is Jumping produced by Norbert Brown, the creator of A Good Man is Hard to Find. Amos’ theater interests drew him to audition with Ballet Tech Cincinnati where he performed in Shall We Dance, The Conductors, Green Legs and Ham, Made in America, and Jazzy Sleeping Beauty. In 2009, Amos won the Salsa category in the So You Think You Can Dance Competition in Dayton, Ohio. He then learned Rueda and joined and performed with Cincinnati’s first Rueda dance team Pan n Canela. In 2015 Amos performed with Global Water Dances-Cincinnati. Amos is currently teaching LA, NY, and Casio/Miami style salsa. From Amos, “I would like to personally thank all of the individual’s master instructors across the country, who helped me in my personal development in the art of salsa dancing and teaching. Thank you, Eddie Torres, Shaka Gonzalez Brown, Rogelio Moreno, Henry Herrera, Patricia Paz “Rueda.”

MODERN DANCE (See also Modern Jazz Fusion & Modern Basics)—These classes aim to improve your flexibility, range of motion, technical knowledge, musicality, artistic range, and understanding of basic modern dance principles. Michelle’s classes combine a variety of techniques, and Cunningham & Limon styles are often seen. Included in her classes will be phrase work, across the floor, and creative choreography. This class is recommended for advanced beginners and intermediate students, though beginners are also welcome. Recommended to wear: any dance/exercise/yoga clothes and bare feet, or if you prefer, soft dance shoes (such as jazz shoes) or socks. See a video of a class sample combination here:

MICHELLE MORANOgraduated with honors from Ohio University School of Dance. She is a certified Pilates and Yoga teacher and has her own studio in the Kenwood area where she works with private clients. Along with extensive performance experience, Michelle’s choreography has been seen in Cincinnati’s Fringe Festival, in collaborations with Moving Art Dance Company, and MamLuft&Co. Dance.

MODERN BASICS – If you are new to Modern Dance, or would like to take a more basic class, this is for you. This class will be designed for an absolute beginner through advanced beginner level. Learn and practice basic modern dance movement and concepts over the session. The goal of this class is to give you a good overview of Modern dance at a slower pace, so that you will feel comfortable taking CDT’s other Modern Dance classes in particular, or any other dance class. This class will emphasize proper dance technique, and start the quarter at a slow, simple pace, increasing in difficultly throughout the 10-week quarter, ending with a class which is similar to mixed level modern dance classes. Recommended to wear: any dance/exercise/yoga clothes and bare feet, or if you prefer, soft dance shoes (such as jazz shoes) or socks.

ALISSA STACHOWSKI holds a BA degree in Dance from The University of Akron, with an emphasis on ballet and modern dance. Before college, she grew up taking classes in tap, jazz, and acrobatics/gymnastics. She has taught dance and fitness classes to kids and adults, as well as worked at after school programs for children and teens. Alissa is currently the Studio Manager and Volunteers Coordinator at CDT and she currently takes all of the modern dance classes at CDT. For questions about Modern Basics or any of the modern classes, please email alissa@cdt-dance.org.

COLLEEN BYRNE (sub) performed for four years with MamLuft&Co. Dance. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Dance from The University of Akron, where she was the recipient of multiple scholarship awards and studied Modern, Ballet, Pointe, Jazz, Tap, and dance composition. Colleen has performed stagings of David Parsons’ and Petipa works, as well as works by Hernando Cortez of Verb Ballets and Amy Querin of Fresno Dance Collective. She has also studied with Doug Varone and Dancers. Colleen has taught in Akron and Cleveland, Ohio, and teaches children with Webby Dance Company. As a student, Colleen’s choreography has been adjudicated at the American College Dance Festival; as a professional, she has presented work at The Area Choreographers Festival (Cincinnati, OH), The Moving Collective (Louisville, KY), and Dance Cincinnati 2011. Recently Colleen recently received her doctoral degree in physical therapy from the University of Cincinnati and currently works as a physical therapist full-time.

MODERN JAZZ FUSION — This class is designed as a unique mix of modern, ballet and jazz. Center work, floor work, across the floor sequences, choreography, and improvisation will be part of the class routine. Modern Jazz Fusion is a class to explore basic techniques in a different perspective. It brings the best of dancing in its eclectic character. Recommended for all levels of dancers (mixed level). Recommended to wear: any dance/exercise/yoga clothes and bare feet, or if you prefer, soft dance shoes (such as jazz shoes) or socks.

DAVID ANTHONY CHOATE JR., born in Charlotte, North Carolina, spent most of his life here in Cincinnati where he attended the School of Creative and Performing Arts. During his time at SCPA he majored not only in Dance but Stage Management as well as Lighting Design & Technology. Upon his graduation from the school, all of those skills would be put to work throughout various parts of his career. Post SCPA dance training includes time at the Cincinnati Ballet Academy, DeLa Arts Center and Planet Dance. After a strong recommendation from his long time Modern Dance Instructor, Cynthia Riesterer, Mr. choate became a member of Dayton Contemporary Dance Company 2, and later, a touring artist with Bi-Okoto Drum and Dance Theatre. During this time he also pursued a degree in Business Administration from Union Institute and University. It didn’t take long into his career to notice the huge absence of black and brown people in the space of professional dance, particularly ballet. Driven by a passion to change the climate of dance, Mr. Choate decided his talents were best suited not solely as a performer but as the Founding Artistic Director of Revolution Dance Theatre, a non profit organization dedicated to building cultural diversity in dance and leveling the playing field for minority dance students. Today Mr. Choate’s work have become a staple at Cincinnati’s Aronoff Center for the Arts and he is proud to say his company has performed for the Nationally syndicated show “Iyanla Fix My Life”, America’s Fastest Growing Church- Crossroads, graced venues such as the Duke Energy Convention Center and traveled to other cities including Chicago and New York. He remains the resident Lighting Designer for Crossroads Uptown and is an active member of the International Association of Theatrical Stagehands for which he has been on local crew for such entertainers as the Foo Fighters, Imagine Dragons, Michael Buble and Cirque de Soleil to name a few. He has been invited to become a member of Cincinnati Ballet’s Young Professionals Program and Advisor to the School of Creative & Performing Arts. He hopes that for all of his knowledge, connections, abilities and skill he can be a catalyst for change and purveyor of opportunity for other Young black and brown artists who want their shot in the arts.

MUSICAL THEATER DANCE —Learn choreographed routines set to the fun and catchy tunes from Broadway and movie musicals, featuring a wide variety of dance & choreography styles. Steve’s classes expand on jazz and ballet basics with dances that have character and personality. Definitely a fun class for everyone, and great practice and training for those who love to perform in local amateur or professional musicals. This class is recommended for advanced beginners and intermediate dancers from any dance background, but beginners are welcome also. Recommended to wear: any dance/exercise/yoga clothes and whatever you prefer for footwear – we recommend that you bring a pair of jazz shoes if you have them, but you can also use ballet slippers, bare feet and character shoes (if you need to train/practice in them).

STEVE IRWIN has been dancing and teaching professionally for over twenty-five years. He has performed all over the world on cruise ships, at dinner theaters, and at theme parks. Steve’s teaching credits include Northern Kentucky University, Governor’s School of the Arts, Playhouse in the Park, CCM and is currently on staff for Cincinnati Ballet and Wyoming Center for the Arts. Steve also offers private lessons and is available to choreograph for individuals, musicals, and events such as flash mobs and weddings. See Steve’s Facebook page here. He is pleased to be teaching at CDT.

YOGA STRETCH & RECOVERY – Taoist Style—Taoist Yoga comes from a Chinese tradition, incorporating movements, stretches, breathing, and mindfulness exercises to promote physical and mental wellness. Class begins with gentle movements and flows designed to stretch muscles and relieve built-up tension. Class ends with longer postures meant to impact deep connective tissues, helping to maintain a healthy range of motion, long-term mobility, and to aid in recovery, a must for athletes and dancers. Incorporating both yin and yang movements, this practice is therapeutic for the body and calming for the mind and spirit. Bring a yoga mat if you have one, CDT has a few available for loan if you do not. Wear any comfortable yoga, dance or exercise clothing.

ERICA NYBERG has been a practicing yogi for 12 years. She completed a 200-hour teacher training program in Taoist Yoga and is a current Yoga Alliance member. Erica is an active Cincinnati Rollergirl and has been using Taoist and Yin yoga to recover from sports and training for many years. She believes that when you push your body to its physical limit, it is important to take time to recover and heal through yoga. For questions about this class, you can email Erica at erica@cdt-dance.org.